Peach tree named ‘UF ONE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach tree, denominated ‘UF ONE’, has a low winter chilling requirement estimated at 150 chill units (cu). The tree is of medium size, has a moderate vigorous and semi-spreading growth habit. It has showy, pink flowers, and leaves with globose glands. Trees of ‘UF ONE’ are self-fertile and regularly bear heavy annual crops of early season fruit that are large for its ripening season. Fruit are uniformly firm and yellow with non-melting, clingstone flesh. Fruit are slightly oval, and uniform with substantially symmetrical shape, and have an attractive 40% bright red skin. The fruit of ‘UF ONE’ blooms about 3 days before and ripens about 8 days after ‘UFBeauty’ peach after the first week in May at Gainesville, Fla.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support under FLA-HOS-03996awarded by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and ExtensionService, USDA. The government has certain rights in the invention.

Botanical designation: Prunus persica.

Variety denomination: ‘UF ONE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach[Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] tree adapted to a subtropical (low chill)winter climate. This new tree, named ‘UF ONE’, produces 40% red blush,good eating quality, clingstone and non-melting flesh fruit for freshmarket before mid-May at Gainesville, Fla. Contrast is made to‘UFBeauty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,784) peach, a standard variety, forreliable description. ‘UF ONE’ is a promising candidate for commercialsuccess in that it has large, attractive yellow ground color, and sweetfruit that ripen evenly and set fruit under the high night temperaturesduring bloom in central Florida.

‘UF ONE’ peach tree (genotype) originated in a cultivated area of thefruit breeding program at the University of Florida, located atGainesville, Fla. where it was tested. The seed parent (Fla. 90-50cn)was of complex origin and was open pollinated (out-crossed to an unknownpeach). ‘UF ONE’ was selected in 1997 because it exhibited tree andfruit qualities with potential for variety release. It was designatedand tested as Fla. 97-30c. It was asexually propagated by budding onto‘Flordaguard’ (unpatented) seedling rootstock (for root-knot nematodecontrol) and determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristicsmaking it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are noknown effects of this standard rootstock on this scion cultivar.Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and allcharacteristics of the tree and the fruit have transmitted for twogenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of peach tree bears fruit that ripen justafter the first week in May at Gainesville, and has a moderately lowchilling dormancy requirement. ‘UF ONE’ blossoms (showy pink flowers)about 3 days before ‘UFBeauty’ peach in late January at Gainesville. Theestimated chilling requirement is 150 chill units, based on bloom time.‘UF ONE’ tree has fruit that are clingstone and of good flavor andeating quality. The trees are vigorous, productive and without alternatebearing. Trees attain in two years, a height of two meters and a spreadof one and a half meters at Gainesville. Terminal growth of up to ameter annually is common on mature 5-year-old trees with normal pruningto a vase shape.

The first fruit ripen in early May at Gainesville in about 95 days fromfull bloom, which is about 8 days after ‘UFBeauty’. The fruit areuniformly large, averaging 140 g when properly thinned to a full crop.Ripe fruit have no red pigment in the flesh at the pit, but there may besome red pigment in the flesh, especially on trees stressed in hot, dryweather, common to many standard peach varieties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing (FIG. 1) is a color photograph which shows atypical specimen of the fruit, leaf, and stem of the new variety asnearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustrationof this type. The photograph shows an attractive shape and exteriorcoloration of six specimens of fruit above a ruler in side view, stemend view, a blossom end view, a side view showing the suture and a fruitcut longitudinally to show with and without the pit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variationsin soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potentialfor commercial production of fresh fruit by ‘UF ONE’ is high, due to itsattractive red fruit over a bright yellow ground color in skin, largefruit of good flavor, and good firmness with even ripening throughoutthe fruit. The present botanical description is that of the varietygrown on 5-year-old trees on ‘Flordaguard’ rootstock under theecological conditions prevailing at Gainesville, Fla. Colors (exceptthose in common terms) are described from “The Pantone Book of Color”,published by H. N. Abrams, Inc., N.Y. 1990.

-   Botanical classification: Prunus persica. cultivar UF ONE.-   Tree:    -   -   Ploidy.—Diploid.        -   Size.—Trees are medium stature when trained to an open vase            form.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous, and must be summer and winter            pruned when grown to a vase shape to keep the tree open to            get strong fruiting wood in the lower center. Trees respond            typically to irrigation and fertilization. Tree growth of 4            to 6 feet in height and 3 to 5 feet in width occurs the            first growing season in the field in Florida where they need            summer pruning.        -   Density.—Light to medium in branching habit. Pruning in            summer and winter is required to open the tree center and            permit sunlight entrance for enhanced fruit color and sugar            content.        -   Form.—Semi-spreading, but easily pruned to vase shape.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to typical north central            Florida winters.        -   Bearer.—Very productive annually without alternate bearing            observed. Trees are self fertile and must be fruit thinned            to avoid limb breakage and obtain large fruit size. Trees            annually set several times the number of fruit for a desired            crop load.        -   Chilling requirement.—Estimated endodormancy chilling            requirement is 150 chill units based on time of bloom and            leafing in relation to standard varieties.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium trunk diameter attaining 8 cm diameter at a            height of 30 cm at the end of 4 years growth at Gainesville.        -   Texture.—Medium smooth, but changes to medium shaggy as tree            ages.        -   Bark color.—Older bark gray, Chinchilla (Pantone 17-1109).        -   Lenticels.—Medium small (2 to 8 mm length perpendicular to            the trunk), brown, Lark (Pantone 16-1324) with the center            being yellowish brown, Medal Bronze (Pantone 17-0942).-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Strong growth of scaffold branches. Fruiting branches            are mostly large diameter (4 to 10 mm) and not overly            twiggy, resulting in strong fruiting wood. Thus, the tree            growth and structure permits easier and faster winter            pruning.        -   Texture.—Relatively smooth, numerous lenticels attaining            size smaller than found on trunk and old scaffolds.            Roughness increases with age.        -   Color.—New wood in summer is light green, Endive (Pantone            13-0632); Old fruiting wood in winter is more brown, Sienna            (Pantone 18-1239).        -   Crotch angles.—Angles are selected at 45 to near 90 degrees            in first year of tree training. Natural angles are within            the normal range of standard varieties for a spreading tree            and similar to those of ‘UFBeauty’.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium; 15 to 17 cm length, including the petiole; 3.8            to 4.2 cm width. Measurements were made on vigorous upright            shoots of summer growth.        -   Thickness.—Average for commercial nectarine varieties. Not            noticeably unusual.        -   Form.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrulate, slightly undulate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Surface.—Upper, glabrous; Lower, medium large veins that are            pinnately netted.        -   Color.—Lower surface is green, Peridot (Pantone 17-0336);            Upper surface is slightly darker green, Piquant Green            (Pantone 17-0235).        -   Glands.—Usually 2, small globose glands mostly on lower leaf            blade, but occasionally on petiole. Leaf glands on young            leaves are yellowish green, Sulphur (Pantone 14-0755).        -   Petiole.—Average 1.2 cm length and 2 mm diameter. Light            green, Beechnut (Pantone 14-0425) on older leaves of summer.            Grooved longitudinally.        -   Stipules.—Medium (equal to most commercial peach varieties),            usually 2 per bud, and abscising just before leaf becomes            full size in summer growth. Color at full size is green,            Leek Green (Pantone 15-0628).        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to north central Florida            winters (16° F. minimum observed).        -   Abundance.—Very high. Most buds set fruit in absence of            spring frosts and show little evidence of bud drop.        -   Size.—Medium, average 3.5 mm length in mid winter.        -   Form.—Plump, conic and free.        -   Surface.—Pubescent scales.        -   Color.—Brown, Stucco (Pantone 16-1412) in late summer.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blossom period.—Blooms 3 days before ‘UFBeauty’ peach —            average 50% bloom in late January most years at Gainesville,            but occurring over a 7-10 day period. Time and length of            bloom are dependant on ambient temperature.        -   Aroma.—None observed.        -   Flower density.—Abundant, varying 1 to 3 per node, but            usually 2.        -   Type.—Showy, but location and seasonally variable within the            range of commercial showy varieties. Average flower diameter            is 3.7 cm. Average petal length, 18 mm; Width, 13 mm.            Texture smooth. Margins are undulate and wavy.        -   Color.—Pink, Orchid Pink (Pantone 13-2010) at flower            opening.        -   Flower parts.—Stamens and pistil size, shape and color are            within the range of standard commercial varieties. There are            5 sepals and petals. Sepals average 5 mm length and 5 mm            wide at attachment to calyx cup and rounded at the distal            end. Sepals are green, Leaf Green (Pantone 17-0332) on the            interior and red, Mineral Red (Pantone 17-1537) on the            exterior with a smooth pubescent margin. Sepals are            pubescent and petals are glabrous. Pistils are usually 1 per            flower and straight (without curls or curves) just prior to            flower opening. Pistil length (from tip of stigma to base of            ovary) averages 16 mm. Pistils are light green, Pale Star            (Pantone 12-0626). Flower pedicel is 1 to 2 mm length.        -   Calyx cup.—Medium small in the size range of commercial            varieties. Calyx cup diameter is 5 mm at the time of flower            opening. Calyx exterior is red, Cardinal (Pantone 18-1643)            and interior is orange, Melon (Pantone 16-1442).        -   Stamen.—Anthers are Orange, Pumpkin (Pantone 14-1139) at            flower opening. Number of anthers varies from 38 to 54.            Filaments are light pink, Pearl (Pantone 12-1304) and length            is 7 to 9 mm.        -   Pollen.—Abundant and bright yellow, Snapdragon (Pantone            13-0840), common in many peach varieties.        -   Fertility.—Fully self fertile, and no cross pollination is            required. Fruit set is abundant.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Tree ripe, May 13, 2008 at            Gainesville.        -   Date of picking.—First, Apr. 10, 2006; Last, — May 18, 2008            at Gainesville.        -   Size.—Uniform, medium large (large size for early mid-season            maturity at 130 to 150 g). Varies with fruit number per            tree, soil type, climatic conditions and cultural practices.            Average equatorial diameter. — 2⅜ inches (60 mm). Average            polar length (stem to distal end). — 2⅝ inches (65 mm).        -   Pedicel size and color.—Length is approximately 7 mm; Width            is approximately 3 mm. Color is green, Lettuce Green            (Pantone 13-0324).        -   Longitudinal section form.—Nearly round with slight tip.        -   Transverse section through diameter.—Nearly round with            slight suture bulge.        -   Suture.—Shallow and inconspicuous except for a slight crease            on the stem end of the fruit.        -   Ventral surface.—Mostly rounded with a slight suture bulge            on one side.        -   Base.—Slightly cordate.        -   Apex.—Slightly obtuse.        -   Crater at stem attachment.—Flaring circular with slight            suture crease at the stem end. Depth is 9 to 11 mm; breadth            is 18 mm at top and 4 mm at pedicel attachment.        -   Skin.—Thickness. — Medium in comparison to commercial peach            varieties. Texture. — Medium in comparison to commercial            peach varieties. Tenacity. — Tenacious to flesh. Color. —            Light red, Faded Rose (Pantone 18-1629), over 40% of skin.            Ground color is yellow, Saffron (Pantone 14-1064). Fruit            surface exposed to sunlight has a higher degree of enhanced            red skin. Tendency to crack. — None observed. Taste. — No            astringency observed. Epidermis. — Pubescent, but slightly            shorter than ‘UFBeauty’.        -   Flesh.—Ripens. — Evenly within each fruit. Texture. — Firm,            juicy, melting when fully ripe. Fibers. — Very fine, small,            tender, and abundant. Aroma. — Moderate and in the middle            range of commercial peach varieties. Eating quality. — Good,            moderately sweet, slightly acid. Soluble solids vary from            10.6 to 13.8 brix at 2.5 to 3 kg penetrometer ( 3/16 inch            tip) firmness over a 5 year period. Juice. — Abundant.            Color. — Yellow, Daffodil (Pantone 14-0850). There is no red            at the pit. Browning by oxidation. — Not detectable on tree            ripe fruit beginning to soften. Amygdalin. — Undetected.        -   Stone.—Type. — Semi-clingstone. Size. — Medium small:            average length is 30 mm; average width is 22 mm; average            thickness is 16 mm; average wall thickness is 5 mm. Color. —            Light Brown, Nugget (Pantone 16-1148) when flesh is freshly            cut. Form. — Oblong. Base. — Straight. Apex. — Acute, but            with no sharp apex. Sides. — Near equal. Surface. — Slightly            irregularly furrowed and pitted from base to apex. Ridges. —            Not prominent. Tendency to split. — None observed. Seed. —            Bitter (amygdalin is abundant) kernel. Viable if stratified            upon removal from fruit at harvest, and without drying.            Kernel is brown, Sunflower (Pantone 16-1054) when first            removed from ripe fruit. Size is 16 mm length, 9 mm wide and            5 mm thick. Shape is acute tip with obtuse base and overall            ovate shape.-   Use: Fresh; dessert.-   Disease/pest resistance: High leaf and fruit resistance to bacterial    spot incited by Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni (Pers.) Diet., and    show less autumn leaf rust incited by Tranzschelia discolor    [(Fuckel) Tranzschel & Litvinov] than ‘UFBeauty’. Resistance to    other fruit and tree diseases are within the range for commercial    peach cultivars in Florida. No unusual resistance or susceptibility    to insects and diseases noted.-   Keeping quality: Excellent after 8 days at 2 C and with minimal    bruises or scarring appear on skin.-   Shipping quality: Degree of firmness at harvest and firmness    retained in refrigeration for 8 days at 2 C, with no internal    breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of eating quality, indicates    fruit should be highly acceptable for shipping.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct peach tree as illustrated and described,characterized by a low chilling requirement, and bearing fruit havingfirm, yellow, sweet, and non-melting, semi-clingstone flesh of higheating quality and an attractive 40% red skin with fruit ripening justafter the first week of May or about 8 days after ‘UFBeauty’ atGainesville, Fla.